Rwanda Basic Education Board to Add Robotics Courses in National Curriculum

Educational robotics is a method of teaching that helps kids and teenagers learn new abilities by using robots and electronic components.

According to Diane Uwasenga Sengati, the acting head of the ICT in Education Department, the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) is thinking about adding educational robotics courses to the national curriculum.

Educational robotics is a method of teaching that helps kids and teenagers learn new abilities by using robots and electronic components. It combines several subjects to increase the interest and enjoyment of learning.

In an interview with The New Times, Sengati stated that REB has started a feasibility study and that the course will be taught as a pilot in a few schools to gauge interest before it could be added to the curriculum.

In order to include the robotics course in the curriculum for the following school year, we are going to test with a few schools. In addition to planning the curriculum, we are considering how long it will take,” she remarked.

“We will collaborate with select classes exempt from national exams to avoid disrupting students during the pilot phase.”

According to Sengati, they are consulting with and using private education technology (Edtech) specialists for the feasibility assessment.

Additionally, we are partners with GiZ and the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT). The project will evaluate primary, secondary, and technical and vocational education levels in order to identify potential partners for implementation in educational institutions.”

Sengati emphasized that the objective is to determine whether integrating robotics into the classroom may improve student performance and support their academic goals.

Potential for enhancing students’ learning

Sengati claims that among other benefits, the robotics course can help students develop their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, provide them real experience in physics, math, and ICT, and more.

Jean-Claude Tuyisenge, the Managing Director of New Generation Academy, an instructional robotics and coding school that opened its doors in 2021.

They developed a curriculum in collaboration with Rwanda Coding Academy, noting that since the program’s start, their kids have excelled in contests, frequently surpassing junior high and high school students. From the first grade onwards, their students are taught robotics and coding, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for the digital age.

According to Tuyisenge, teaching robots has improved pupils’ comprehension of abstract concepts like chemistry, physics, and math. By using these abstract disciplines in real-world robotics projects, the goal is to make them more approachable.”

Tuyisenge stated that the introduction of robotics education classes in schools, as part of REB’s program, is essential for training the next generation for innovative technology.

“The world is moving in the direction indicated by developing technology. For this reason, we need to get the next generation ready for the opportunities and challenges they will bring,” he stated.

He said that New Generation Academy is excited to keep up its efforts to assist the expansion of robotics education in Rwanda and is expanding its curriculum to do so.